The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has begun screening of 5,723 shortlisted candidates nationwide, for its 2025/2026 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for MSc and Ph.D award.
At the selection interview for the shortlisted candidates on Monday in Abuja, Mr Ahmed Aminu, Executive Secretary, PTDF, said 29,633 applications were received while 5,723 were shortlisted under a transparent process.
Aminu, represented by Mr Bello Mustapha, Deputy General Manager, Education and Training, PTDF, said it was charged with skills, competency and capacity building for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He said the exercise, which aimed at assessing the suitability of the candidates had been structured to efficiently deal with a high number of applicants and satisfy Federal Character principles.
Aminu, while describing the panelists as credible professionals drawn from academia and energy sector, said their expertise and recommendations would play a crucial role in identifying the most deserving candidates.
He said since 2000, the fund had engaged in various activities aimed at achieving its mandate, one key programme being the award of scholarship for overseas MSc’s and PhD’s.
He said in furtherance of PTDF’s commitment towards increased efficiency, minimising costs, and seeking more avenues for technology development, it sought and developed strategic partnerships in UK, France, Germany and Malaysia.
He said the beneficiaries of the PTDF scholarships would be offered the opportunity to study English-taught programmes at some of the best institutions in these countries.
“All PhD programmes in the UK under this scheme would be offered exclusively as split-site programmes in partnership with PTDF-owned College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, and three universities in the UK.
“Panel members are expected to evaluate candidates based on predetermined criteria, including academic performance, research potential, leadership qualities, and personal suitability for overseas studies.
“It is necessary to reiterate the need for absolute professionalism and integrity of all parties in the conduct of the exercise. Failure to adhere strictly to this may lead to disqualification.
“You will be expected to score applicants’ credential, research proposals or statements of purpose, and professional memberships in accordance with the provided templates,” he said.
Speaking, Mrs Bolanle Kehinde-Agboola, Head, Overseas Scholarship Scheme, PTDF, said the interview selection from the 5,723 shortlisted candidates would hold at six designated centres in six geopolitical zones in the country.
Kehinde-Agboola said the scheme had been on for about 25 years and over the years PTDF had been known for its integrity, rigorous, transparency and fairness in the award of the scholarship across the country.
“When the application window opens, we already have a system in place electronically that will allocate points based on the information that the students applied, and the points are located.
“And after that is done, we physically cross check the information, shortlist based on our criteria that we have already set, then we have the oral interview, like what we are having today,” she said.
According to her, the PTDF received 29,633 applications and 5,723 are shortlisted, while the scholarship award would be based on PTDF management’s decision.
She said the fund considered Management and Law courses asides the petroleum related field courses being offered because of its supporting field in the oil and gas Industry
Some of the candidates also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the opportunity to be selected for postgraduates studies abroad and pledged to utilise the advancement properly if successful.
Mr Usman Awolerimi, a Lawyer, who applied to read International Commercial Law under the MSc category at the University of Nottingham, described the process as professional and optimistic, expressing optimism to be awarded.
Miss Elohor Ewherido, who applied for an MSc. International Business Management, said the whole process had been transparent and clear, and hoped that the outcome of the interview would be successful.
Mr Oluwatobi Emmanuel, an Electrical Electronics Engineer said he got to know about the scholarship through PTDF’s X official handle and website, then seized the opportunity and applied then was selected.
“I did not encounter any challenges while applying. The whole process was seamless and I am very happy to be selected, hoping to be selected for MSc. Energy and Sustainable Engineering in Technical University of Munich, Germany,” he said.
